Released 30 years ago
Hard Bargain
Albert King · 1996
47 min · 13 tracks · blues
A raw blend of soulful guitar riffs and heartfelt lyrics, capturing the essence of classic blues with emotional depth.
Top tracks — play these first
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You Sure Drive a Hard Bargain — This title track encapsulates the album's themes of love and hardship with a powerful vocal delivery and expressive guitar work that defines King's style.
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The Sky Is Crying — King's rendition of this classic showcases his signature bending guitar solos and emotional weight, making it a standout moment on the album.
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I Believe to My Soul — With its rich instrumentation and soulful vocals, this track highlights King's ability to convey deep emotion through music, reflecting his mastery as a performer.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong guitar work and emotional vocal delivery but lacks a tightly cohesive flow.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of call-and-response between the guitar and vocals, a hallmark of traditional blues.
- Several tracks incorporate extended guitar solos that showcase King's expressive playing style, particularly on 'The Sky Is Crying'.
- The tempo varies significantly across tracks, with some maintaining a slow, soulful pace while others pick up to a more upbeat groove.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic flow with emotional peaks
- heartfelt vocals that resonate deeply
- for soulful afternoon vibes
- engaging guitar riffs throughout
- wave-like pacing keeps interest
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek constant high-energy beats
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1996, Hard Bargain was Albert King's final studio album, coming after years of influential work in the blues genre. This record followed his 1992 album, Live at the Apollo, and marked a return to studio production after a long period focused on live performances. At this stage in his career, King was recognized as a pioneering figure in electric blues, solidifying his legacy.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Freddie King· Otis Rush· Buddy Guy
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Overall Junction 2:25
- 2 Funk‐Shun 3:48
- 3 You Sure Drive a Hard Bargain 3:23
- 4 You’re Gonna Need Me 2:53
- 5 As the Years Go Passing By 2:52
- 6 Drownin’ on Dry Land 4:28
- 7 Heart Fixing Business 3:31
- 8 The Sky Is Crying 5:33
- 9 I Get Evil 3:34
- 10 Shake ’Em Down 3:13
- 11 I Believe to My Soul 4:40
- 12 Got to Be Some Changes Made 4:35
- 13 Albert’s Groove #2 2:32
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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